1950-09-08 Sandy Saddler w rtd 7 (15) Willie Pep, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NYC, New York, USA - WORLD. Referee: Ruby Goldstein. In what was a bitter contest, Saddler (124¾) regained the title from Pep (124¾) when the latter retired in his corner at the end of seventh round following a shoulder dislocation. Apart from being put down for ‘nine’ in the third by a hard left hook to the jaw and also losing the seventh, Pep was out in front, having given a superb exhibition of left-hand boxing, all three judges confirming that they had only managed to give Saddler two rounds at best.

Following the fight, The Ring magazine intimated that it was the kidney punches delivered by Saddler in the seventh that had been the prime cause for Pep’s retirement, and in order to give the latter enough time to recover a rematch was scheduled for 23 February 1951.

Unfortunately, coming back against the unknown Tommy Baker in a warm-up, despite winning easily Pep required 23 stitches to a head wound, an injury that saw the fight set back until the summer due to Saddler’s commitments. At the end of May, Saddler, now tired of waiting for Pep’s management to sort out a fight date, took in a tour of South America, winning four out of four before arriving home early in August. Following that, the fight was set aside for the end of September in New York.